Freedom of Speech
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Universal Declaration of Human rights claims, that it will provide every human with its basic rights. UDHR is a milestone in the history of mankind because no one ever stood for the rights of the black people, women or slaves. The UN was first ever to stand for humanity. The United Nations declared a charter on 10 December 1948 which contains 30 articles that state every human being should enjoy the liberty to life, freedom of expression and speech. It affirms the faith, dignity and worth of a person also it argues that no one else is allowed to interfere with the pride of a human being. There is a contradiction between one’s freedom of speech and other’s dignity if the idea of free speech is absolute. Free speech means uncensored and unrestrained speech; it is a right to express one’s thought without any restrictions or any influence.
What is Freedom of Speech?
According to these human rights government has no authority over a man if he is expressing his thoughts and is not a threat to society. Freedom of expression gives autonomy to someone to an extent that no matter whatever he is doing; for instance, if someone wants to roam naked in streets the government and his society have no right to stop him and this is his freedom of expression. John Stuart Mill states theses ideas in his book “on liberty” the book contains Mill’s ethical and utilitarian philosophies. He was a 19th century English philosopher whose ideas evoked liberalism.
Is UDHR making efforts to provide these Basic Human Rights?
Moreover, in previous centuries Europe was claiming that it is the age of so-called enlightenment and modernism and all these movements were going on in the west. It was the exact time when the British crown was ruling the world. When liberalism was at its peak in Europe; British rulers were suppressing the voice of Sub-continent and other regions which were under their rule. They killed whoever they wanted to kill. The Britishers manipulated people and they suppressed their rights.
Although freedom of speech means saying out loud whatever you want to say, this right is not even followed by the UN itself. The issues of Palestine, Syria, Burma and Kashmir are one of the most evident examples against this charter. From the day when it claimed to support and to provide rights to such states and till today the situation of these regions is way worst than before and these states cannot even speak for their basic right of independence.
Freedom of speech OR Right to dignity
a contradiction
Furthermore, as UDHR claims the right to dignity and also freedom of expression at the same time both are conflicting because if someone will speak without any restrictions. He is going to hurt the self-esteem of the other. So, in a larger context, the liberty of speech subdues the right to dignity. For the betterment of human behavior, we always had to put some restrictions on ourselves called moral values of society. This is what that makes and improves civilizations and cultures and collectively it beautifies the humanity.
Indeed, it is not wrong to speak for one’s self and if you have to seek protection from someone. Also if your government is not working for developments even though you are paying your taxes. But again speaking without restriction is a bogus argument. We are highly influenced by our surroundings and what we think or want is a product of our environment. The psychological forces are beyond our control and can affect our thinking along with our expressions.
For instance, European make blasphemous content about Our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and they claim that it is their right their freedom of expression. Mocking someone’s religion is unethical and UDHR has no restrictions about that because it is asserting that humans have the privilege to express and speak whatever they want to.
Hence, for morally developed society and ethical values, freedom of speech and expression can be a loose thread. It is a threat to other’s dignity and also to the moral values of society. Even the so-called charter of the universal declaration of human rights is biased. Because it never stands up for the Rights of Muslims.